Proper snowblowing to avoid damage to landscape plants, taking inventory
of seed supplies, and checking stored root crops for decay, are some of
the gardening tips for this month.

When you are clearing your driveway with a snowblower this winter, direct
the snow away from plants. Otherwise, the blowing ice crystals may damage
the tender bark of young trees and shrubs. This isn't as much of a concern
for plants wrapped with burlap.

When you're finished with holiday evergreen boughs, use them to mulch
tender perennials and shrubs. They make a lightweight but insulating layer
that helps protect plants from alternating temperatures like our typical
January thaw followed by a deep freeze.

Now is a good time to take inventory of your supplies for seed starting.
Check quantities of potting soil, containers, labels, other supplies, and
seeds you may have stored from previous years. Sterilize any used containers
with a 10 percent bleach solution (one part bleach to ten parts water).
If you have seeds more than a couple years old, sow a few (even between
moist paper towels) to check their germination rate.

If you've noticed tiny black flies that look like fruit flies around
your indoor plants, they are probably fungus gnats. Though annoying when
they flit about, the 1/8-inch-long adult insects are harmless. Their tiny,
worm-like larvae feed on organic matter in moist soil, which can include
plant roots. To control them, allow the soil to dry out between waterings,
use sticky traps, or drench soil with a biological control.

Potatoes, onions, carrots, turnips, and other root crops that you have
stored in your basement or root cellar should be checked regularly for
signs of decay. Any vegetables that show any rotting should be removed
and eaten (if possible) immediately so they don't spread the disease to
other vegetables.

If you start seeds under grow lights or fluorescent shop lights indoors,
check the tubes for signs of age. Tubes that have been used for two to
three seasons probably have lost much of their intensity even though they
look fine. Dark rings on the ends of the tubes are a sign they need to
be replaced.

Now is the time to order bare-root fruit trees. Bare-root trees are
shipped in late winter or early spring before they start to grow. Trees
will be shipped for planting time in your area, and they should be planted
immediately upon arrival.